PN can sometimes be very cruel. I find myself constantly counting the good and bad days. And, it can be very disheartening when you have counted mostly good days for a long period of time, only to have the bad days come back with a vengance.

The pain you're describing sounds like sciatica.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciatica

Has your doctor mentioned that?

Meralgia paresthetica also causes lower back pain and shooting pains down the thigh. Some have caused me to bolt upright from a sound sleep. Fortunately, it typically only affects one thigh. Knowing how painful even that it is, I feel for anyone with sciatica.

You really should check out the thread on magnets mrsD started a couple of weeks ago:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread118248.html

I started using them for my lower back/meralgia paresthetica, and the relief has been amazing.

I hope you get your answers soon, and get some relief from the pain.